By Desire Uzochukwu
The Abia State Government has disclosed that seven cases of gender-based and sexual violence were recorded at the state’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre during the period under review, including five cases involving minors aged between 10 and 14.
Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this Monday while briefing journalists after the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti in Umuahia.
Kanu said six of the reported cases involved sexual violence, while the seventh was a domestic violence case involving a pregnant woman.
According to him, the cases involved five minors and two adult women aged between 25 and 40 years, with allegations including defilement, rape and domestic violence.
He said the centre provided medical and other support services to the survivors, including surgery for a 10-year-old survivor who suffered severe vaginal bleeding following the alleged abuse.
Kanu said the reported cases had been documented for appropriate protection, investigation, referral and legal processes.
He added that the state government remained committed to supporting survivors and ensuring that cases of gender-based violence were appropriately handled through the relevant authorities.
Meanwhile, the state government has approved preparations for the fourth cohort of its technology training programme, TechRise.
Kanu said the first three cohorts had produced 2,210 graduates, while 88 outstanding graduates had so far been absorbed into the state civil service.
He said Governor Otti approved the commencement of the fourth cohort following the outcome of the previous editions.
According to him, the programme was designed to equip young people in the state with digital skills and create pathways into employment.
On malaria prevention, Kanu announced that distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets across the state’s 17 Local Government Areas would commence in the first or second week of October.
He said the nets had begun arriving in the state, while consultations were ongoing with stakeholders across the LGAs to facilitate distribution.
The commissioner also announced that larval source management activities would commence before the end of September in two LGAs identified through biological data as having high levels of mosquito larvae.
He said the intervention was being implemented by the Centre for Mental Health in collaboration with the National Malaria Elimination Programme.
On diphtheria, Kanu said Abia had not recorded any case despite outbreaks reported in some parts of the country.
He said the state’s public health department had instituted an outbreak prevention and preparedness plan.
Kanu also announced that Abia would host the 2026 World Igbo Day on September 29, with activities including a keynote lecture, wreath-laying ceremony, interdenominational service, march-past, traditional dances and speeches by South-East governors and other Igbo leaders.
The Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, attended the briefing.
